Yankees manager Aaron Boone has made significant batting order changes over the past two days, once again shaking things up on Wednesday. After Tuesday’s lineup debacle with Jahmai Jones leading off and J.D. Davis batting cleanup, Boone did not shy away from using the former Oakland Athletic castaway again.
Yankees’ Lineup Shuffle Continues Under Boone
In fact, with DJ LeMahieu playing first base and Oswaldo Cabrera at third, Davis will bat 7th, filling the designated hitter spot.
“This is a guy that recently has had a good amount of success.”
That’s a real quote from Aaron Boone about Davis, by the way.
Davis, 31, is hitting .216/.288/.338 this season, including four homers and six RBIs. He has a 24.8% strikeout rate, a 7.2% walk rate, and an 84 wRC+. Despite enjoying five straight seasons with above-average production, Davis has struggled over 45 games this year and is clearly experiencing an offensive regression.
Evaluating Ben Rice’s Performance
Ben Rice, 25, has had an up-and-down start to his MLB career, but his numbers have deteriorated recently. He’s hitting just .196/.292/.423, including six homers and 19 RBIs. He is still finding his groove at the next level, and the Yankees are trying to spark some veteran experience, which is why Boone has made the decision to start him in the lineup.
Rice’s underlying metrics are good, and he makes solid swing decisions. Most importantly, he does damage when he makes contact.
Urgent Needs at the Trade Deadline
With that being said, General Manager Brian Cashman needs to be active at the trade deadline to help reinforce some of the weaker positions on the roster. The fact that the Yankees are picking between Rice and Davis is problematic.
- Yankees sign 2022 NL MVP to one-year, $12.5 million deal in free agency
- Yankees’ first base target nearing decision, 4 teams also potential fits
- It could be a matter of time before Yankees strike deal to land 8x All-Star
Ultimately, the veterans need to step up and produce against the Mets, but benching Rice is certainly a questionable move.